The new British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, wants the UK and Ireland to jointly seek better access to information from other EU member states in order to help deal with the increased threat of terrorism.
Mr Brown raised the issue when he formally met the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, for the first time as Prime Minister in Belfast this morning.
Ireland and the UK make up a special sub-set in the EU - the two islands operate a common travel area.
They have opted out of special border arrangements, passport controls, information sharing systems operated by mainland European countries, known as the Schengen group.
But Mr Brown is clearly worried about gaps which need to be addressed. Within days of taking over from Tony Blair, he was challenged by two terrorist incidents in London and Glasgow.
Mr Brown held his first face-to-face discussions with the Taoiseach on the margins of a British-Irish Council meeting at Stormont.
He described Mr Ahern as one of the great architects on the Good Friday Agreement and someone who is held in great esteem throughout the UK.
Mr Brown hailed a 'historic' new era which is opening in Northern Ireland in what is also his first trip there since taking office.
Mr Ahern and Mr Brown also discussed the EU Constitution.
Speaking after the meeting, Mr Ahern said the Irish role is to help broaden industrial investment and co-operation in a friendly way.
